Ramona Ripston

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

"I'm very tired," Ramona Ripston concedes. She recently turned 83, but it's the recent setbacks to her causes that led to her decision to retire next year as executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.

"I'm very tired," Ramona Ripston concedes. She recently turned 83, but it's the recent setbacks to her causes that led to her decision to retire next year as executive director of the ACLU of Southern California. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

"I'm very tired," Ramona Ripston concedes. She recently turned 83, but it's the recent setbacks to her causes that led to her decision to retire next year as executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.